FOOTBALL.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16324, 23 September 1918, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

d ASSOCIATION CHAMPIONSHIP. CANTERBURY (3)' v. OTAGO (2). Thore was a rood attendance at English Park on Saturday to witness a chailengo i I match between Otago and Canterbury for the ' ' Brown Shield. Tli? iootball was of high order, but a gnsty nor'-wester made the bill tricky and di.iicult to control. Following i ' were tho teams:— ] Oxago—Sroit, Dickie, McAllon, Nicol, MoEvoy, Hobbs, i)ryden, Davey, Mason, Brundel, and Henderson. Canterbury—Swift, Watson, Lusk, Dowker, Lee, Newail, Wood.. xSiE3ttt, Norman, Pilling, aatd. Fricklelon. Mason kickcd off for Otago, and made play down the centre. Brundel oleverly evaded Lee, and almost got through, but Newall came across and punted well down, where Bis6ett secured find transferred to Norman, who shot at goal Scott punched out, and j Otago wont down in a line, and Lusk conI ceded a comer, which .paroved abortiVo. Good play between Mason and Brundel gave the former a chance, but Watson saved at the expense of a corner. Fiom a well placed kick th*> ball hovered in front of tho goal, and . from a scramble Otago scored. Otago 1, Canterbury 0. ' Otago continued to prcßs, and were having more of the play than the home team. Swift brought off a remarkable save from the Otago centre, and from the clearance Canterbury took up the attack. Norman and Bissett worked "the baJl down, but th© latter over-ran, and McAllen cleared. Otago came back, and a long 6hot from Nicol was easily negotiated. Good passing amongst the home forwards forced Otajo to defend, and after forcing several consecutively Pilling headed a fine goal. i Ctago 1, Canterbury 1. I From tho kick Otago rushed play to the homo twenty-five. A foul on Newall relieved the pressure, and Canterbury were attacking as lialf-time sounded. In tho second half Newall and Lee changed ' placos in tho Canterbury team, and the niterI ation proved effective in stopping tho Otago rushes. With pretty footwork Norman mado ! ground down the centre, but Dickie repulsed, ' and a smart run by Mason, followed by_ a ' stinging 6hot, caused Swift to clear with difficulty. Play becom© exciting, and both goals hr.'l narrow escapes. A free kick enabled Canterbury to take up tho attack, and ft splendidly placed corner resulted in I the ball' being netted from a ecrajnbie. Canterbury 2, Otago 1. j Otago wero not to bo denied, and after Norman had tested Scott with a fast ground shot the visitors went down in a lino, and , Mason boat Swift from close range. Otago 2, Canterbury 2. ' With the scores even both sides made desperate efforts to gain the lead. Otago were smarter on tho ball, and were doing most of tho attacking, but the Canterbury defence held out, and after clearing from Henderson, Watson transferred to Woods, who was unmarked. The latter put' in a splendid run from just inside the half-way line, and ecored the winning goal, the final result being i Canterbury 3, Otago 2. j Mr Geo. Black was referee. [ CURTAIN RAISER. I The match between St. David's, Wellington, and Excelsior, Christchurch, played as a curtain raiser to the representative match, resulted in a win for Excelsior by 3 goals (scored by I. McLeod) to 0. j -